FREEDOM WRITERS

#1 I AM SIX FEET, THREE INCHES TALL. I OUTWEIGH MOST PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LINEMEN. IN A FIGHT, I CAN BE BEATEN, BUT NOT WITHOUT THE OTHER PARTY SUFFERING SERIOUS PAIN AND DAMAGE. I HAVE HAD DENTAL WORK WITHOUT NOVOCAIN AND BODY STRITCHES WITHOUT PAIN KILLER.
#2 I AM VERY HAPPY THAT MOVIE THEATRES ARE DARK.
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I SAW FREEDOM WRITERS ON A FREE TICKET - GIVEN OUT AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM HERE IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I THOUGHT THE TITLE WAS FREEDOM RIDERS.
TEN MINUTES INTO THE FILM, THERE WAS A PROJECTOR MALFUNCTION AND A 30 MINUTE DELAY IN THE PRESENTATION. I THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING THE SHOW AND GOING HOME. THIS WAS A MOVIE ABOUT SCHOOL AND SINCE I STARTED TEACHING SCHOOL IN 1968, I FIGURED I WOULD SPEND THE TWO HOURS FINDING FAULT WITH A HOLLYWOOD VERSION OF WHAT A SCHOOL IS LIKE.
WHEN THE FILM WAS OVER, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I EVER SAW A BETTER FILM ABOUT SCHOOL.
THESE KIDS WERE LIVING IN A MURDEROUS ENVIRONMENT. STAYING ALIVE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONJUGATING A VERB. OF COURSE, STAYING ALIVE IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONJUGATING A VERB, BUT FOR THESE KIDS, BOTH ACTIVITIES WERE UNLIKELY TO REACH A SATISFACTORY COMPLETION. THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE WAS SCARY TO THE AUDIENCE, NOT MELODRAMATIC, BUT REALISTICALLY FRIGHTENING.
A NOVICE TEACHER, HILARY SWANK ( MILLION $ BABY), WITHOUT HER BOXING GLOVES, IS THROWN IN THE CLASSROOM AND EXPECTED TO FAIL, SINCE HER STUDENTS ARE ALL "FAILURES."
NOTHING NEW HERE - THIS IS STANDARD PROCEDURE, BUT THIS FILM HAS SOMETHING AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS, THAT LIFTS IT ABOVE THE USUAL AND MAKES IT SPECIAL, VERY SPECIAL.
IT IS NOT A FEEL GOOD MOVIE. IT IS NOT ROCKY, RALLYING TO WIN THE FIGHT IN THE LAST 30 SECONDS OF THE FINAL ROUND.
I WOULD CALL THIS FILM, CRASH, IN A SCHOOL SETTING. ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT MADE CRASH AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNING FILM, ARE PRESENT IN THIS FILM, BUT ANCHORED IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
THE STORIES OF EACH STUDENT ARE COMPELLING -- THEY COULD NOT PAY THE AUDIENCE TO LEAVE THE THEATRE BEFORE SEEING HOW EACH SEGMENT OF THE PLOT WOULD UNFOLD. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO GO INTO ANY GREATER DETAIL - BEYOND SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO SEE THIS FILM, WHEN IT OPENS IN YOUR AREA.
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IN #1 - I WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT I AM A RELATIVELY STRONG AND TOUGH PERSON.
IN #2 - I WAS HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE DARKNESS OF THE ROOM HID THE TEARS THAT WERE CONSTANTLY WELLING UP IN MY EYES. SOME WILL SEE THIS FILM AND CLAIM THEY WERE UNMOVED -- I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE. ****************************************************************************** COMMENTS I'm just back from seeing "Freedom Writers" and there are not enough adjectives to describe the impact this GREAT movie had on the mixed age/ethnic group that was in attendance today in a Brooklyn theater (approximately 170+ folks.) People broke into applause in two spots and tears of joy/pride/ sadness - recognition of "been there done/seen that" were on the brink throughout.As you stated in your earlier tip about this film, the young people were great & truely nailed their roles.Every educational institution in the country charged with teaching the next generation of teachers/guidance counselors should make this required viewing. ALL the head in the sand educational leaders who want a cookie cutter approach to teaching/education should be strapped into their cushy chairs and made to see it over and over until evey line and tear is imbedded in their skulls/psyche.
R.K. -- BROOKLYN
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I AGREE WITH R.K.

D.Y.D. -- LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK